Decorative lighting device



Nov; 10, 1931.

M. GOLDMAN DECORATIVE LIGHTING DEVICE Filed April 13, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l j INVENTOR.

V ORNEY Nov. 10, 1931. M. GOLDMAN DECORATIVE LIGHTING DEVICE Filed April 13, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

A TORNEY Patented Nov. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES MORRIS GOLDMAN, OF BRIDGEPURT, CONNECTICUT DECORATIVE. LIGHTING Il-EVICE Application filed s it-n13,

This invention relates to decorativelighting devices, and more particularly, to a lighting device adapted to be supported on a table, window sill, or the like, and including arow of candle-like members supporting elec trio lamps.

Heretofore it was proposed to provide such a device with a base for supporting candlelikemembers of different lengths so as to present electric lamps carried by the upper ends of the members in oppositely disposed inclined planes to enhance the decorative appearances of the lights.

a Such proposals necessitated the provision o'fcandle-like members of different lengths and required attention and effort in the selectionof different length candle-like members inprop'er sequence to give the effect de-' sired when making the device.

These requirements are-obviated by the present invention by arranging the base so that the candle-like members are all of the same length, and yet so that they may pre-' sent their electric lamps at desired heights above the base to produce the ornamental effectwanted. This is accomplished by the present invention by providing the base with sockets for the candlelike members i and placing the bottom of each socket a predetermined distance from thesurface on which the base rests. Preferably, the bottomsof the sockets are at progressively increasing heights above the supporting surface proceeding from the ends of the base toward the center, so that the lamps carried by the candle-like members of uniform length will be presented in opposite-I 1y directed inclined planes.

I I In case the top surface of the base is flat. 4. and parallel with the supporting surface, the

sockets' will be of different depths with relation to the top surface of' the base, but it is preferable that the sockets be all of the same depth and that the top of the base be made. to follow generally a line-parallel with a'line through the bottoms. of thesockets.

In decorative lighting dev-ices heretofore provided, it was proposedt-o attachwires of each canclle like member to the lampso c'ket which itcarries and pass these wires through 1931. Serial no. 529,642.

apertures in the base after which the wires were connected in series and to current supply wires in channels or otherwise at the bot tom of the base. I An object of this invention is to permit the candle-like members to be wired together before being inserted in the base, and for this purpose the upper surface of the base is provided with a channel to receive wires in terconnecting the adjacent? lamp sockets. Preferably, these wire channels extend in a straight line through the top surface of the base and intersect the sockets in the base for the candle-like members. 7

An important feature resulting from the. attainment of this object of theinvention is the ability to use a single continuous wire from one socket to that next adj acent. which runs down through the candle-like member, across the space between them, and up through the adjacent candle-like member, thus avoiding soldered or other joints in the wires interconnecting adj acent'lamp sockets. Ifdesired, the wire channel may be made deep or wide enough to receive thereturn wire from the lamp socket at the end or the base and carry it tothe other end of the base where, with the wire attached to the socket a that end of thebase, itleads to an attachment plug. r

However, if desired,the return wire may be located in a groove running through the 7 bottom of the base and, when so arranged, short-circuiting of y the lamps by contact of an accidentally bared portion of the return wire with any similar portion of the lamp connecting wires, avoided. Other features and advantages will here inafter appear. f t In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate several forms ofthis invention Figure 1 is a front elevation ofadecora tive lighting device made in accordance with this invention. v p

Fig. 2shows aplurality of candle-like 95 members ready to be inserted in the base member which is shown in section.

Fig. 3' shows-a plurality of candle-like members, three of which are shown in section, to indicate how, according to the present.

" in section, of modified forms of this invention.

The lighting device of the present invent1on,1n common with other other devices prevlously proposed, comprises a base in the form of an elongated block having sockets 11 to receive the lower ends of tubular candle-like members 12, the upper ends of which contain sockets 13 for electric lamps 141, the sockets 11 usually being in a row extending longitudinally of the base 10. The base 10 is adapted to be supported on a flat surface such as a window sill, table, or the like, and for this purpose the bottom 15 of the base is preferably made flat, although it need not be continuous from one end to the other of the base, for the base may be cut-out as at 16, if desired. 7

In order that the row of lamps 14 may be presented in a line extending downwardly and outwardly from the center of the base to enhance their appearance, it was heretofore proposed to provide the tubular candle-like members of progressively increasing lengths from the ends to the center of the row of lamps. This necessitated not only the making ofthe candle-like members of different lengths, but required that they be kept segregated and that when assembling, they be selected and-placed in proper order to give the desired appearance when assembled on the base.

To avoid this, the present invention provides the candle-like members 12 all of the same lengths and arranges the sockets 11 in the base so that the lamps 1 1 will be properly disposed to give the desired effect. Accordingly, the sockets 11 into which the lower ends of thetubular candle-like members 12 extend, have their bottoms 17 located in clif- 5 ferent horizontal planes with respect to the form a pair of oppositely directed inclinedplanes, as shown in Fig. 1, the sockets 11 have their bottoms 17 progressively increasing distances from the bottom 15 of the base proceeding from the ends 18 and 19 of the base toward the center 20 thereof, as shown in Figs. 2, 6, 7 and 8.

The bottoms 17 of the sockets 11 may have their distances from the base varied according to arithmetical progression as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6, or, they may be located in a curved plane as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, in which case the apexes of thelamps 14 define a curved line. Or, as shown in Fig. :4, the bottoms 17 of the sockets 11 may be irregularly spaced from the bottom surface 15 of the base to present the lamps 14 in a staggered line;

With regard to the base 10, it may have a fiat upper surface 20 as shown in Figs. 4 and 8, in which case the depths of adjacent sockets 11 vary; or, the base may have a top surface 21 which is arcuate or curved in form, as shown in Fig. 7. However, itis considered preferable at present to have the top surface stepped in conformity with the stepped arrangement of the lamps 11, and hence, as shown in (S, the top surface 22 is provided with flat step portions, while in Fig. 1. the top surface 23 is provided with curved portions forming steps.

As stated above, it has been previously proposed, as shown in Fig. 8, to provide each lamp socket with wires 24 running down through the tubular candle-like members 12 after which the wires 21 were passed through holes 25 in the bottoms of the sockets comm unicating with a longitudinally extending wire passage 26 in the bottom 15 of the base. When this was done, it was necessary to solder or otherwise join, as at- 27, the wires 24 from adjacent tubular members 12 with the incident use of time and labor, and these joints when left uncovered with insulation, presented a fire and shock hazard. 7

According to the present invention, this is avoided by providing means whereby the row of lamp sockets and candle-like members may be wired-up before being inserted in the base. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the lamp sockets,

which each comprises a husk 28, a shell 29,

and a center contact 30, are connected together in series, each one to an adjacent one by a continuous wire 31. Before the shells 29 are pressed into the husk 28 and before the husk 28 is pressed into the upper end 32 of the tubular member 12, one end of each wire 31 is soldered, or otherwise secured, to the shell 29 or center contact 30 ofone lamp socket 13, while the other end of the wire 31 is soldered, or otherwise secured, to either the center contact 30 or the shell 29 of the adjacent lamp socket, the wire 81 extending down throughthe husk 28, then through the tubular member 12, then havin a loop or free stretch 33 extending to the next adjacent tubular member 12, up through the latter and the husk 28 associated with it to the other socket contact, all without a break or joint in the wire. After this is done. the shell 29 is forced into the husk 28 an d the latter is forced into the open end 32 of the tubular member 12, as shown at the right of 3.

WVhen' the lamp sockets 13 are thus connected together in a row as shown in the upper part of Fig. 2, the tubular members 12 are eachpressed into one of the sockets 11 in the base. And, to accommodate the free stretches or loops 33 of wire between the adjacent tubular members 12 so as to permit the insertion of the pre-wired tubular members, the upper I communicating with the sockets 11, into which the free stretches 33 may be placed and retained, as shown in Fig. 1. In doing this, the assembler needs merelyto guidethe loops 33 to the slot 34 with his fingers, for they will be forced down to the bottom of the slot out of accessibleposition by the act of pressmg the tubular members 12 against the bottoms 17 of the sockets in the base.

The Wire groove 34 may be so narrow that the wire 31. just snugly fits within it, or requires the use of a flat tool to force it in if desired, and if so formed the groove will firmly retain and conceal the wire even should the loop 33 be long enough to reach the surface of the base while the tubular members are driven home.

Again, the Wire clearance groove 34 may be made deep enough or wide enough to accommodate the return wire .35, see Figs. 2 and 3, which is connected to the socket 13 of the end of the tubular member 12, which return wire 35 is carried from the end 18 of the base to the end 19, where it meets the wire 36 attached to the socket 13 at the end 19 of the base and from which point the wires 35 and 36 emerge from the end 19 of the base in the form of a cord or cable 37 having at its end an attachment plug 38 by means of which the set of lamps may be connected to a convenience outlet.

It will be seen that by having each wire 31 in one continuous uninterrupted piece, there is no danger of the usually bared portion thereof contacting with a similar portion of the return wire 35 which, if it occurred, would short-circuit one or more of the lamps.

If desired. the wire clearance passage 34 opening at the top of the base may contain only the lamp interconnecting Wires 31, and the device may be arranged as shown in Fig. 5, with a wire channel. 39 provided on the bottom face of the base 10 and communicating with the end socket 11 of the base through a hole 40. When this is done, the return wire may be brought through the hole 40, then through the channel. 39 to a hole 41 at the other end of the base where it joins the wire 36 from the socket at that end. By being thus isolated, any danger of short-circuiting between the Wires 31 and the return wire is obviated.

\Vith regard to the provision of the return wire channel 39, it should, of course, be understood that the arrangements disclosed in Fig. may be employed in any of the other forms of the device.

Having thus described the invention, what i is claimed as new and for which it is desired to obtain Letters Patent, 1s

1. A decoratwe lighting device comprising an elongated one-piece base havinga bottom support-engaging surface, and vertrcal sockets open at the top of the base, said sockets.

having bottomsat various difierent distances from a line drawn through the bottom of the base; and candle-like, lamp-supporting menu bers inserted in said sockets and supported thereby perpendicular to the bottom of the base, said candle-like members being of substantia'lly uniform length "and when resting on the bottoms of the sockets presenting electric lamps supported by their upper ends in the bottom surface thereof; a row of verticalsockets in the base opening through theto-p surface thereof, said sockets belng of 11111- form depth with relation to that portion of the top surface through which each thereof opens; and candle-like, lamp-supporting members, one inserted in each of said sockets and supported thereby perpendicular to the bottom of the base, said candle-like members being of substantially uniform length and when resting on the bottoms of the sockets presenting electric lamps supported byv their upper ends in a line conforming to and parallel with a line through the bottomsof the sockets.

3. A decorative lighting device comprising an elongated base having a bottom supportengaging surface and a row of spaced-sockets open at the top of the base tubular candle like members insertable. in said sockets and supported thereby perpendicular to the bottom of thebase; lamp sockets carried by the upper ends of said members; and a plurality of Wires interconnecting said lamp sockets in series, each wire being continuous and extend-- ing from one socket down through the tubu lar supporting member thereof, up through thenext adjacent tubular member, and to the I lamp socket carried thereby, and said Wire having a free stretch between the two adj a cent tubular members, the top of the base havmg a channel interconnecting adjacent sockets for the tubular members and adapted to ice receive and retain the free stretches of said 1 connecting wires when the tubular members are inserted in their socketsand supported by the base in spaced relation. I,

4, A decorative lighting device comprising an elongated base having a bottom supportengaging surface and a row of; spaced sockets open at the top of the base "tubular candlelike members insertable in said sockets and sugported thereby perpendicular to the bottom of the base; lampsocke'ts carried by the upper ends of said members; a plurality of wires interconnecting said lampsockets inseries, each wire being continuous and ex tending from one socket down through the tubular supporting member thereof, up through the next adjacent tubular member, and to the lamp socket carried thereby, and

said wire having a free stretch between the two adjacent tubular members the top of the base having a channel interconnecting adjacent sockets for the tubular members and adapted to receive and retain the free stretches of said connecting wires When the tubular members are inserted in their sockets and supported by the base in spaced relation; and return wire connected to the socket at the one end of the base and extending to the other, end of the base, said return wire being located in the channels interconnecting the adjacent sockets for the tubular members.

5. A decorative lighting device comprising an elongated base having a bottom supportengaging surface and a row of spaced sockets open at the top of the base; tubular candlelike members insertable in said sockets and supported thereby perpendicular to the bottom of the base; lamp sockets carried by the upper ends of said members; a plurality of wires interconnecting said lamp sockets in series, each Wire being continuous and extending from one socket down through the tubular supporting member thereof, up through the next adjacenttubular member, and to the lamp socket carried thereby, and said wirehaving a free stretch between the two adjacent tubular members, the top of the base having a'channel interconnecting adj acent sockets tor the tubular members and adapted to receive and retain the free stretches of said connecting wires when the tubular members are inserted in their sockets and supported by'the base in spaced relation;

and a return Wire connected to the socket at the one end of the base and extending to the other end of the base, said base having a channel in its bottom surface for receiving and retaining said return wire.

6. A base for a decorative lighting device having a bottom-supporting surface adapted to rest directly upon a fiat support, said base being elongated and provided with a row of sockets extending longitudinally thereof and each open at the top of the base; and a wirereceiving groove in the top surface of the base extending between adjacent sockets and forming a conduit for the wire.

7. A decorative lighting devicecomprising a base having a bottom-supporting surface adapted to rest directly upon a flat support, said base being elongated and provided with a row of sockets extending longitudinally thereof and each open at the top or" the base; a wire-receiving groove in the top surface of the base extending between adjacent sockets;

and a olurality of tubular members carrying at their upper ends lamp-sockets connected by Wires and adapted to be inserted in tubular members.

Signed at Bridgeport, in the county 0 Fairfield, and State of Connecticut,-this 11th day of April, 1931. r

MORRIS GOLDMAN. 

